Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) is in a mess. It was proved beyond any doubt on its foundation day, coinciding with its founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah’s birth anniversary. Abdullah was the first Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir who dreamt of having SKIMS like institute in Kashmir. He was revolutionary, He had been in and out of jails all his life, he understood people of Kashmir and acknowledged their issues because he had a finger on their pulse, and once in power, he tried to do something to better peoples’ lives and, in healthcare, SKIMS was the ultimate.
It was in this backdrop that Chief Minister today said his government’s priority is to restore autonomy of SKIMS, address its staff shortages, and modernise equipment. SKIMS, it may be recalled, is one of the best medical institutions, with the best faculty, in the entire country. However, during past a decade or so, this institution has been degraded, compromising its autonomy and thus creating serious issues about its very existence.
The institution, following 2019, has suffered financial constraints, outdated equipment and staff shortage, and there has been no serious effort to make this institution function independently so that it can have its own guide lines to save peoples’ lives. SKIMS’ autonomy, once a hallmark of its efficient functioning, has been eroded, impacting its engineering and maintenance capabilities as it still faces critical challenges like power outages, oxygen plant failures, and cumbersome procurement procedures.
The institution, that once was conceived to be a beacon of hope for entire north India, is now chocking for a breath. Even a cursory analysis of today’s function says a lot. There was no discipline, People were offering shawls to each other randomly. While Mr A was being announced to get felicitated, the person on stage would be. Mr Z. It was all mess.
The institution, that was established by senior Sheikh as a bacon for India’s health sector, with the aim to help locals and attract Health Tourism is in a mess. One may have lots of disagreements with present dispensation but fact of the matter is that during LG administration, SKIMS has hit its low because bureaucrats manipulated and ensured that they run it. Professionals were sidelined and sadly the LG administration didn’t resist.
When it comes to institutions like SKIMS, for God’s sake, leave politics and political trickery aside. The present dispensation at New Delhi may not be comfortable with the institution’s name (Sheri Kashmir), change it, but please don’t make it to rot and destroy the health of people. This institution used to be one of the best in entire country. Let the government save its that reputation and not throw it to dogs. Let the institution’s autonomy be restored and it be run by experts in the field. This institution is already under tremendous pressure as for as number of patients visiting is concerned. Therefore there should be no compromise when it comes to enhancing its staff particularly the nursing side.
